Giants Co-Owner John Mara: Tom Coughlin “hungry as ever”

Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

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New York Post columnist Steve Serby sat down with Giants co-owner John Mara this past week to discuss the customary trendy topics surrounding Big Blue Nation. The hottest topic? How about the status of head coach Tom Coughlin, who will be navigating the 2014 season under the shadow of a one-year contract. With the calendar rapidly flipping towards September 8th, Mara has noticed no dip in fiery charisma from the soon-to-be 68-year old Coughlin (nine years the senior of Mara):

"“I think he’s as hungry as ever, particularly after our team going 7-9,” Mara said. I think he’s as driven as ever and is as excited as ever to get back to work.”"

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Mara also expressed his firm disbelief in the “hot seat” concept, as he expects success from Coughlin and his staff:

"Listen, everybody knows what the expectations are, and we expect to win, and if we don’t, then you have to make changes,” Mara Said. But the question is when do you make those changes? That’s the toughest decision that you ever have to make. Do you do it after one bad season, do you do it after two? I think it’s a feeling that you have that can we win with this individual or this group of individuals, or do we have to make changes? And, I have never once felt that we can’t win with Tom Coughlin and his staff. I know he believes it, and he’s able to convince the rest of us that we’re going to win. That’s the furthest thing from my mind right now, is making any changes anywhere."

On the opposite side of the coin, however, the notion of “leaving on your own terms” won’t fly with John Mara running the show — contrary to popular sentiment on the subject:

"Does anybody ever earn that right? That’s just not the way this business is in this day and age,” Mara said. Let’s hope that it goes that way, but we haven’t even had that discussion yet. We’re just looking forward to the next couple of seasons."

In other ownership-related news… Mara stressed to the fanbase that another “aggressive” offseason is unlikely to take shape anytime soon. The Giants spent over $100 million on newcomers and re-ups this free agency period, but those opportunities to get creative and assertive with the cap just don’t come along often:

"“It’s not going to happen every year,” Mara said Thursday, after presenting a $250,000 donation to the Meadowlands YMCA in East Rutherford. “We’re not going to have that kind of cap room every year. And listen: If you’re that aggressive every year, there’s something wrong with your organization. But you have to do it every once in awhile.”“I was the same idiot that said last year that (last year’s team) was the best team we’d had in years, but look at what happened,” Mara said. “Yeah, (the fans) do deserve better. And we did our best this offseason.”"

Circling back to the Tom Coughlin issue — we want your take, Giants Nation. Will “Technical Tom” be back snarling and screeching on the sidelines in 2015-2016? Or is the carousel on the verge of unloading its decade long captain…?

Credit: NFL Game Rewind (2010, Week 15)